Leaf guard for gutters

ABSTRACT

A leaf guard is provided to be mounted to a gutter. The leaf guard includes a first section to abut an edifice to which the gutter is attached, and a second section for covering the gutter. According to one embodiment, a leaf guard is provided for a gutter mounted on an edifice. The leaf guard is formed of a single sheet of rigid material. The leaf guard includes a first section to abut a side of the edifice, a second section that extends away from said first section at an angle to cover said gutter, and a third section to cover an outer edge of said gutter.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to leaf guards for rain gutters.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] For years, homeowners have had to deal with the annual chore of cleaning their gutters. They can either perform this task themselves or be forced to pay the expense of hiring outside help. Another option is to use one of the unsightly and flimsy mesh guards that are currently on the market. There is a need for a sturdy, easy to install, easy to remove, and inconspicuous leaf guard cover for gutters. Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved leaf guard for gutters.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] A leaf guard is provided to be mounted to a gutter. The leaf guard includes a first section to abut an edifice to which the gutter is attached, and a second section for covering the gutter.

[0004] According to one embodiment, a leaf guard is provided for a gutter mounted on an edifice. The leaf guard is formed of a single sheet of rigid material. The leaf guard includes a first section to abut a side of the edifice, a second section that extends away from said first section at an angle to cover said gutter, and a third section to cover an outer edge of said gutter.

[0005] According to another embodiment, a leaf guard for a gutter mounted on an edifice is provided. The leaf guard is formed of a single sheet of rigid material and includes a first section to abut a side of the edifice, a second section that extends away from said first section at an angle to cover said gutter, and a third section to sit on a bracket used to attach the gutter to the edifice.

[0006] According to another embodiment, a leaf guard for a gutter mounted on an edifice is provided. The leaf guard is formed of a single sheet of rigid material and includes a first section to abut a side of the edifice, and a second section that extends away from said first section at an angle of 90° or greater to cover said gutter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the leaf guard according to one embodiment mounted on a gutter;

[0008]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

[0009]FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 2 of an alternative embodiment of a leaf guard for a gutter;

[0010]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment of a leaf guard; and

[0011]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 2 showing the alternative leaf guard shown in FIG. 3 mounted to a gutter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012]FIGS. 1 and 2 show one embodiment of a leaf guard 10 for a rain gutter 20 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The leaf guard 10 is formed with a single sheet of rigid material, preferably aluminum sheet metal, or any other rigid material, e.g., plastic, which could be formed into the leaf guard shapes disclosed.

[0013] Individual leaf guards 10 are mounted to a rain gutter 20 secured to a house, or other edifice, 30 via a bracket 40. The guards 10 are mounted to the house 30 and gutter 20 such that the guards 10 overlap one another at 50. Overlapping prevents debris from entering between the guards. When installed the guards 10 prevent debris such as leaves and sticks from falling into the gutter 20, thus relieving the need to repeatedly clean the gutters.

[0014] The guard also includes holes 60 which permit water to flow through during rain. The holes 60 are, for example, large enough to permit water to easily flow through the guard and small enough to prevent debris from entering the gutter. One quarter inch holes have been found to work well.

[0015] The individual guards 10 are secured in place by a sheet metal screw 70 which passes through the leaf guard 10 and the gutter 20. The guard includes a first section 80 which abuts flush against the side of the house, building or other edifice 30. The section 80 will slide under the drip edge 90 of the house if such a drip edge is provided. The guard is bent at 85 and includes a second section 95 which predominantly covers the gutter. The bend 85 is greater than 90° so that section 95 is angled with respect to edifice 30 so that water flows away from the edifice towards the holes 60.

[0016] The guard includes third section that includes a series of bends at 100, 103, 105 and 107 to form a planar section 109 that sits upon an edge of the gutter 20 for accommodating the sheet metal screws 70. The gutter is also bent at 105 and 107 to form a lip 110 that serves to position the gutter guard over the outside edge of the gutter 120. After the guard is positioned as shown, the sheet metal screw is inserted to secure the guard in place.

[0017]FIG. 2A shows an alternative embodiment in which the section 80 is folded over itself so that section 80 does not sit under drip edge 90 as shown in FIG. 2. This embodiment also includes an additional bend 130 and shows holes 60 formed after bend 130. Folding over section 80 adds stability and permits the leaf guard to be used in applications where there is less room between the roof and the gutter.

[0018]FIGS. 3 and 4 show an alternative embodiment of a leaf guard 10. This embodiment is similar to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-2 except with respect to how the leaf guard is secured to the gutter. In this embodiment, to mount the gutter guard, section 80 is positioned under drip edge 90 (as in the previous embodiment), then the gutter guard is pressed down to “snap” into position to rest at 140 on bracket 40. The snapping action occurs when edge 150 of guard 150 is forced past inside edge 160 of the gutter. Both the gutter and the guard are formed of materials that “give” to facilitate this snapping action. In this embodiment the act of using a sheet metal screw is unnecessary.

[0019] Having thus described several particular embodiments of the invention, various alterations, modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be part of this disclosure, and are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description is by way of example only and is limited only as defined in the following claims and the equivalents thereto. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A leaf guard for a gutter mounted on an edifice, the leaf guard being formed of a single sheet of rigid material and comprising: a first section to abut a side of the edifice; a second section that extends away from said first section at an angle to cover said gutter; and a third section to cover an outer edge of said gutter.
 2. The leaf guard of claim 1, wherein the first section sits substantially flush against the side of the edifice.
 3. The leaf guard of claim 1, wherein the angle is greater than 90°.
 4. The leaf guard of claim 1, wherein the third section includes a planer section to sit atop the outer edge of the gutter and to receive a screw to attach the leaf guard to the gutter.
 5. The leaf guard of claim 1, wherein the third section includes a series of bends to wrap around the outer edge of the gutter.
 6. The leaf guard of claim 1, wherein the second section includes a plurality of holes to pass water.
 7. The leaf guard of claim 1, wherein the first section is folded over itself.
 8. The leaf guard of claim 1, wherein the leaf guard is to be used with a plurality of like leaf guards on said gutter which overlap one another.
 9. A leaf guard for a gutter mounted on an edifice, the leaf guard being formed of a single sheet of rigid material and comprising: a first section to abut a side of the edifice; a second section that extends away from said first section at an angle to cover said gutter; and a third section to sit on a bracket used to attach the gutter to the edifice.
 10. The leaf guard of claim 9, wherein the third section includes an angled surface adapted to bear against an inner edge of the gutter so that when a downward force is exerted on the leaf guard the edge of the third section will snap past and clear the inner edge of the gutter to sit on the bracket.
 11. A leaf guard for a gutter mounted on an edifice, the leaf guard being formed of a single sheet of rigid material and comprising: a first section to abut a side of the edifice; and a second section that extends away from said first section at an angle of 90° or greater to cover said gutter. 